CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Approach Lodge
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured that the home was preventing infections, using personal protective equipment safely, arranging testing and supporting visits in line with guidance. The provider also said it had measures to manage COVID-19-related staffing pressures.
- Effective?
- Outstanding
- Does the care work? Training, consent, food and drink, working with GPs and nurses.
- Caring?
- Good
- Are people treated with kindness and dignity?
- Responsive?
- Good
- Is care built around the person? Care plans, activities, complaints.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Is the home run well? The manager, the culture, how problems get found and fixed.
What inspectors found, February 2022
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found good infection control, safe visiting arrangements and staff support during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This was a planned, announced inspection on 11 February 2022. The home was given less than 24 hours' notice. Inspectors focused on infection control, visiting arrangements and whether COVID-19-related staffing pressures affected care.
Inspectors found clear visitor screening arrangements, regular testing, enough personal protective equipment and staff following infection control procedures. The home was clean, and enhanced cleaning was used for frequently touched areas.
People and relatives were kept updated about visiting changes. Staff received regular information, training and support. The service was also meeting the COVID-19 vaccination requirements in force at the time.
The service was inspected but not rated. This means the report does not provide an overall quality rating or ratings for most of the five key questions.
Visitor safety
Visitors had to complete screening and provide a negative lateral flow test before entering. People and relatives were kept informed about changes to visiting arrangements.
“There were clear procedures in place to ensure visitors could enter the home safely, with a requirement to complete a screening questionnaire and to provide a negative lateral flow device (LFD) COVID-19 test before entering the home.” from the report
Cleaning and protective equipment
The home was clean and hygienic. Staff had access to personal protective equipment and followed infection control procedures during the inspection.
“The home was clean and hygienic and there were clear guidelines for staff to follow to ensure cleaning schedules were followed.” from the report
Staff support
Staff received regular updates and could raise concerns in handovers, team meetings and supervision. Inspectors found that staff felt supported.
“Staff told us they felt well supported in their role and had been kept regularly updated with any changes throughout the pandemic.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What infection prevention and control arrangements are currently in place, and when were they last reviewed?
- 02How are visitors currently screened and supported to visit people living in the home?
- 03How does the home manage staffing pressures, including staff absence linked to infections or testing?
- 04How often are staff trained and checked on the safe use of personal protective equipment?
- 05How are people and relatives told about changes to visiting arrangements?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and COVID-19-related staffing pressures; it did not rate the other four key questions or provide an overall rating. This explanation was written from the published report of 24 February 2022 by an AI system and checked against the report text: every quoted line appears in the report. It is a guide to the report, not a substitute for it. Read the full report on cqc.org.uk.
What inspectors found, August 2019
Rated Good overall; inspectors found outstanding mental health support and kind, safe, personalised care.
The inspection took place over two days. One inspector met all seven people living at the home and spoke with three of them. They also spoke with staff, relatives and health and social care professionals, and checked care, medicines, staff and management records.
The home was rated Good overall. It was rated Good for Safe, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Effective was rated Outstanding. Inspectors found that support for people's mental health had made a very positive difference to their health, wellbeing and independence.
People were described as safe and treated with kindness and respect. Staff understood people's needs, supported healthcare appointments, helped people stay in touch with family and take part in community activities, and used the least restrictive approach. No restrictive intervention practices were being used.
The previous overall rating was Good, published in March 2017. Effective improved from Good to Outstanding. The other four key question ratings remained Good.
Mental health recovery
Inspectors found that the home gave outstanding support with mental health conditions. Relatives and professionals described major improvements in people's health, communication and wellbeing.
“People received outstanding support to help manage their mental health conditions and this had an extremely positive impact on their health and wellbeing.” from the report
Safe and least restrictive care
Staff understood people's risks and safeguarding responsibilities. The home used positive behaviour support and did not use restraint, seclusion or segregation.
“The service used positive behaviour support principles to support people in the least restrictive way. No restrictive intervention practices were used.” from the report
Kind relationships
Inspectors saw respectful and positive interactions between people and staff. The atmosphere was described as relaxed and homely.
“Throughout the inspection we observed positive interactions between people and the staff team. There was a relaxed and homely atmosphere” from the report
Choice and independence
People were involved in decisions about their care and daily lives. Staff supported them to do more for themselves and to develop skills through the MY L.I.F.E programme.
“People were fully involved in how they received their care.” from the report
Family and community links
People were supported to maintain family relationships and take part in local activities, including day centres, the gym, the cinema and religious activities.
“People were supported to be part of their local community and were encouraged to take part in activities to improve their health and wellbeing.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How would you support my relative's particular mental health needs, and how would you measure their progress?
- 02How would you involve me and my relative in reviewing the care plan and making decisions?
- 03How would you support my relative to build independence through the MY L.I.F.E programme if they did not want to take part?
- 04How would you support my relative to keep in contact with family and take part in activities that match their interests, culture and religion?
- 05How would you discuss and arrange end of life care if my relative's health deteriorated?
This was a planned inspection of all five key questions, and it also considered whether the home used restrictive intervention practices; no such practices were found. This explanation was written from the published report of 13 August 2019 by an AI system and checked against the report text: every quoted line appears in the report. It is a guide to the report, not a substitute for it. Read the full report on cqc.org.uk.
Every inspection of Approach Lodge
Each visit the CQC has published, newest first, back to the day the home was registered.
- February 2022Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- August 2019GoodSafe: GoodEffective: OutstandingCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- September 2018
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 13 September 2018.
Ratings and report dates from the Care Quality Commission, Open Government Licence v3.0. A home can also be visited without a new rating being published, so the timeline shows published inspections.
Weigh the report against the rest
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What to check when you visit
At least 100 live-in carers within about an hour of Tower Hamlets
These are self-employed carers on PrimeCarers, the introductory agency that runs this directory. Each has a profile with their own rates and reviews from families, and you choose who to talk to.
Most charge £950 to £1,200 a week. 78 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“The interaction she gives my mother is incredible, singing, dancing, taking her to groups, on plenty of walks which mum always loves.”
“Sidonia is a first class live-in carer whose dedication and thoughtfulness made her stay a happy experience.”
Every carer has had an enhanced DBS check in the last 18 months, ID and right-to-work checks and an online interview. Their skills and training are for you to check with them. Carers set their own rates, and who is free changes week to week.